The Spanish golfer José María Olazábal has had the opportunity to talk and give his point of view on many of the most mediatic issues currently in the world of golf. All this has taken place in a tribute to his admired friend and ex-partner, Seve Ballesteros, for whom the man from Hondarribia has only had praise.
The Basque commented that Seve would have been “number one on the LIV Tour list”, and added that “knowing him, I know he wouldn’t play it”
José María Olazábal, statements
He has also been able to express himself on other thorny issues and always without biting his tongue.
“Seve Ballesteros would be worth as much or more than Tiger (who was offered 700 million dollars from LIV and decided to stay faithful to the PGA Tour), but he would not leave.” With this he has also made clear his position on the new Saudi tour, which distributes huge amounts of millions but with the handicap of not being able to play events organized by the PGA.
These statements, by one of the most prestigious golfers at the national level, were made at the Santa Marina golf course, in Cantabria (land of Seve), which he designed himself. Olazábal, who knows Seve like few others on the circuit, after being his friend and partner, has also highlighted some of the virtues of the golfer who sadly passed away in 2011.
“He had a charisma and an aura that you don’t normally see in players . I didn’t coincide with Niclaus’s best stage but I did with Tiger’s. Severiano’s charisma and aura is unrepeatable. He would be number one on the list, but I am convinced that he would not play it”, he added to close the chapter on the new circuit.
There was also time for the Basque to rule on another of the controversial issues that European golf has had to address in recent weeks. “Remove Henrik Stenson from the captaincy? There was no other.” In addition, regarding the competition, which he won as captain in 2012 (one year after the death of his friend Seve) in Medinah (USA) he has commented that “you have to fulfill a series of obligations that if you are part of the LIV Tour it will be difficult you will be able to fulfill This is so”
He finally wanted to praise the figure of Luke Donald, the new leader of the European team, stating that “he is at a very good level, he is the optimal substitute for this situation due to the knowledge he has. Also, he knows the Ryder Cup and knows everything that goes into being a captain.
He is a more than adequate person for the position”. With these words the act of homage to a legend of Spanish sport such as Severiano Ballesteros ended, in an appointment in which José María Olazabal wanted to be present and pay honors to his friend.
